What's next for Oscar winners?

Mar. 4, 2013
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Christoph Waltz, who recently won his second Oscar for his portrayal of Dr. King Schultz in 'Django Unchained,' returns to the dark side in his next role, that of the villainous Mandrake, in the animated feature 'Epic.' / Blue Sky Studios, Twentieth Century Fox

by Scott Bowles, USA TODAY

by Scott Bowles, USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES -- They've won their Oscars. Next up: Dodging the Oscar curse.

More than one star has fallen prey to the now-mythological Oscar jinx: If you're handed an Oscar statuette, prepare to deal some turkeys.

Just ask Halle Berry, who won for 2001's Monster's Ball but has been plagued with flops, the latest being Cloud Atlas. Or Cuba Gooding Jr., who hasn't neared the summit of his Oscar win for 1996's Jerry Maguire. Or Adrian Brody, who won for 2002's The Pianist but has hit sour notes since.

Of all the winners, analysts say, none face more scrutiny than Ben Aflleck, whose film Argo won the best picture Oscar, and Daniel Day-Lewis, who claimed his best acting Academy Award for Lincoln.

For Affleck, who also directed The Town and Gone Baby Gone, the pressure is on to keep up his winning streak "of mainstream filmmaking that caters to adults and still makes money," says Katey Rich, executive editor of film site Cinemablend.com. "Not many directors can claim that."

Affleck has yet to announce his next directorial effort. He will star opposite Javier Bardem in the Terrence Malick drama To the Wonder, out April 12.

Lewis knows what pressure is like, having won his third best actor Oscar. "He makes so few movies that when he does make one, we see it as an event," says Jeremy Kay, U.S. editor for the trade publication Screen International. "Of course, he's been selective for years, and won more (best actor) Oscars than anyone. It's natural to expect big things."

Lewis, who makes a movie once every three years or so, has not announced his next project.

Here's a look at Sunday's other big Oscar winners and their upcoming projects:

Best Actress

Winner: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

Up Next: Serena (Sept. 27)

The role: Lawrence reunites with Playbook co-star Bradley Cooper in this film set in Depression-Era North Carolina. It follows their struggles, as the future of George's (Cooper) timber empire becomes complicated when it is learned that his wife, Serena (Lawrence), cannot bear children.

Best Supporting Actor

Winner: Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)

Up Next: Epic (May 24)

The role: Waltz provides the voice of Mandrake in this 3-D animated film about a girl transported to a deep forest, where forces of good and evil do battle. Also stars Amanda Seyfried and Jason Sudeikis.

Best Supporting Actress

Winner: Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables)

Up Next: Don Jon's Addiction (date not set)

The Role: Hathaway has a small role as Movie Star in Addiction, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's tale of a porn-addicted, Don Juan-styled narcissist looking to become less selfish.

Best Director

Ang Lee (Life of Pi)

Up Next: The Hands of Shang-Chi (no date set)

Lee will produce Shang-Chi, based on the Marvel Comics hero, a young Kung-Fu master who learns his father is a master criminal. Lee has not announced a new directorial project.